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Boats used in illegal fishing operations across Brisbane, Moreton Bay, and the Gold Coast will be crushed following a state investigation that uncovered hundreds of protected and undersize animals sold in the Redlands.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol agents tracked down fishers following a tip-off that a Russell Island man was selling seafood at suspiciously low prices.
A search of the man’s property revealed 139 protected bivalve molluscs and an undersized mud crab in his possession.
He was prosecuted and found guilty of selling mud crabs, king threadfin salmon and mulloway – all of which were taken from Queensland waters without the mandatory commercial authority.
The Russell Island man was fined $10,000, and ordered to forfeit his boat and any related equipment to the state, which included the boat’s trailer, outboard motor and marine electronics.
His boat is among three vessels the Department of Primary Industries will destroy.
The other vessels were seized in operations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, respectively.
The department’s fisheries and forestry deputy director-general Pauline Jacob said black-market operations undercut legitimate sellers, and the boats’ destruction was a message to fishers across the state.
“These offenders weren’t simply catching a few extra fish,” Jacob said.
Jacob said legitimate businesses invested in following the correct licensing, equipment, and procedures ensuring fishing practices were sustainable and food was safe to eat.
“Queenslanders deserve confidence that the seafood they buy has been legally harvested, responsibly managed and supplied through legitimate businesses operating under Australia’s high standards,” she said.
The investigation included surveillance of the offenders, and a joint response from the department and Queensland police.
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